Reusables Are Rising—But Maintenance Makes the Difference
New legislation across the West Coast—and increasingly the East Coast—is raising fees and taxes on single-use plastics, accelerating a shift that’s been building for years. It’s no surprise the first wave of this change is showing up in coastal states, where the environmental impact of plastic waste is felt most directly in our oceans, waterways, and communities.
As these policies take hold, more consumers are embracing reusables like water bottles, food containers, and silicone bags to reduce waste and avoid added costs. This is a positive step forward—but adoption alone isn’t enough.
Reuse Only Works When Products Stay in Use
The real environmental benefit of reusables comes from longevity. When items are difficult to clean or dry, they’re more likely to be abandoned, replaced, or thrown away—undermining their purpose and contributing to landfill waste.
Proper maintenance is essential. Lingering moisture in bottles, bags, and containers can lead to odors, mold, and bacteria, causing people to give up on reusables long before the end of their usable life.
Making Sustainable Habits Stick
For reusables to truly replace single-use plastics, they must be easy to care for and fit seamlessly into daily routines. When maintenance is simple and hygienic, reusables stay in rotation longer, delivering real environmental impact.
By ensuring better care of reusables, we can help keep them out of landfills and reduce plastic pollution—protecting our planet and our oceans for the long term.